Developing future visions for bio-plastics substituting PET - A backcasting approach

abstract

The demand for plastics far exceeds that for any other bulk material and is expected to grow further due to global economic and population growth. Packaging is by far the largest end-user segment for plastics. Interest in bioplastics is increasing as public awareness of plastic waste accumulation in natural environments increases. 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is the key monomer in the production of polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF), a polymer that offers a sustainable solution to replace the commonly used polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A backcasting workshop with 42 experts was held to identify current barriers and challenges that block the commercialization of FDCA-based products and to outline potential pathways toward future market diffusion. Several barriers which are strongly related to technological and market-related aspects are preventing the full potential of FDCA from being unlocked. FDCA products cited in the literature are versatile and cover a wide array of niche applications. In the back casting workshop, participants described their specific - yet highly divergent - future visions for PEF. Participants with a background in FDCA production referred mostly to developments that would need to take place in the field of FDCA applications to turn their vision into reality, while participants with a background in FDCA product development tended to refer to open issues related to FDCA synthesis. The findings of this study indicate that there is a great need for intensified cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration. (C)& nbsp;2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.& nbsp;

keywords

LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT; 2,5-FURANDICARBOXYLIC ACID; AEROBIC OXIDATION; BIOMASS; ENERGY; FDCA; SUSTAINABILITY; TEREPHTHALATE; POLYAMIDES; CONVERSION

subject category

Science & Technology - Other Topics; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

authors

Haas, V; Wenger, J; Ranacher, L; Guigo, N; Sousa, AF; Stern, T

Groups

G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy

Projects

European network of FURan based chemicals and materials FOR a Sustainable development (FUR4Sustain)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)

Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)

acknowledgements

This publication is based on work from a COST Action FUR4Sustain-European network of FURan based chemicals and materials FOR a Sustainable development, CA18220, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, www.cost.eu).This work was developed within the scope of CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020) & LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia/MEC (PIDDAC). FCT is also acknowledged for the research contract under Scientific Employment Stimulus to AFS (CEECIND/02322/2020). The authors also acknowledge the financial support by the University of Graz.